Cleaning Up After the Apocalypse: Nuclear Waste Disposal in Civilization VI

So, you’ve decided to unleash the fury of the atom in Civilization VI. Perhaps you were driven to desperation by a warmongering neighbor, or maybe you just wanted to see the world burn. Whatever the reason, now you’re left with the grim task of cleaning up the radioactive fallout. Fear not, aspiring world leader, for it is possible to reclaim the irradiated wastelands and restore your cities to their former glory!

The direct answer to the question of how to clean nuclear waste in Civ 6 is that you primarily use Builders to remove the radioactive fallout effect from tiles. Simply move a Builder onto a tile affected by nuclear contamination and use their “Remove Fallout” charge. The number of charges required depends on the severity of the contamination. It takes time and Builder charges, so it is an important strategic decision when using nuclear weapons.

Understanding Nuclear Fallout in Civ VI

Before diving into the cleanup process, it’s crucial to understand the mechanics of nuclear warfare and its aftermath in Civilization VI. Nuclear devices leave a lasting scar on the landscape, impacting your empire and your enemies in several ways.

The Devastating Effects

• Tile Contamination: Any tile hit by a nuclear blast becomes contaminated with radioactive fallout. This contamination lasts for a set number of turns, depending on the type of nuclear device. A standard nuclear device contaminates tiles for 10 turns, while a thermonuclear device (thermonuke) contaminates them for 20 turns.
• Damage to Units: Units ending their turn on a contaminated tile suffer 50 damage per turn. The only exception is the Giant Death Robot, which is immune to radiation.
• Impaired Production: You cannot apply production to anything in tiles containing contamination, such as repairing districts, buildings, or improvements.
• Infrastructure Destruction: Nukes destroy districts, improvements, and strategic resources on impact tiles.

Types of Nuclear Weapons

There are two main types of nuclear weapons in Civilization VI, each with its own destructive potential:

• Nuclear Device: This is the “standard” nuke. It destroys the center tile and each surrounding tile and contaminates all impacted tiles.
• Thermonuclear Device: Often called a thermonuke, this is the bigger, badder version. It destroys the center tile and two tiles out from the center tile. It contaminates all tiles that are hit.

The Cleanup Crew: How to Use Builders Effectively

The primary tool for cleaning up nuclear waste in Civilization VI is the Builder unit. Here’s a step-by-step guide to utilizing them effectively:

1. Produce Builders: Ensure you have a sufficient number of Builders available. The number you need will depend on the scale of the nuclear devastation.
2. Locate Contaminated Tiles: Identify all tiles affected by radioactive fallout. These tiles will be visually marked on the map with a radiation symbol.
3. Move Builders to Contaminated Tiles: Move your Builders onto the contaminated tiles. Be mindful of the damage they will sustain if you end their turn on a radioactive tile. Move them on and off in the same turn if possible.
4. Use the “Remove Fallout” Action: Select the Builder and choose the “Remove Fallout” action. Each charge will remove the radiation from a single tile.
5. Repeat as Needed: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all contaminated tiles are clean.

Strategic Considerations for Nuclear Warfare

While unleashing nuclear weapons can be tempting, it’s crucial to consider the long-term consequences and develop a strategic approach to both using them and dealing with the aftermath.

• Target Selection: Choose your targets carefully. Prioritize enemy cities with high production or strategic resource locations. Also consider the time it takes to clean up the fallout when selecting targets, so that you aren’t hurting yourself more than your enemies.
• Minimizing Collateral Damage: While complete elimination is impossible, try to minimize the number of your own tiles affected by fallout.
• Swift Cleanup: Prioritize cleaning up contaminated tiles to restore production and prevent further damage to your units.

The Broader Implications of Nuclear Warfare

Using nuclear weapons can have significant diplomatic and geopolitical repercussions. Be prepared to face the consequences of your actions.

• Warmonger Penalties: Using nukes will incur severe warmonger penalties with other civilizations, making diplomatic relations difficult.
• Global Condemnation: Other civilizations may denounce you, embargo trade, or even declare war in response to your nuclear aggression.
• Long-Term Recovery: The destruction caused by nuclear warfare can significantly hinder your empire’s progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does nuclear fallout last in Civ 6?

   • A regular nuclear device causes radioactive fallout for 10 turns, while a thermonuclear device causes it for 20 turns.

2. Can Military Engineers clean nuclear waste?

   • No, only Builders can remove radioactive fallout. Military Engineers have other functions, such as building roads and fortifications.

3. Are there any technologies or civics that speed up the cleanup process?

   • No, there are no specific technologies or civics that directly speed up the “Remove Fallout” action for Builders. However, technologies and civics that increase Builder charges or movement speed can indirectly help.

4. What happens if a city is nuked in Civ 6?

   • The city’s population is reduced, buildings and districts are damaged or destroyed, and all tiles within the blast radius are contaminated with radioactive fallout. Production cannot be applied until the fallout is gone.

5. Can cities sink in Civ 6 due to nuclear attacks?

   • No, cities cannot sink due to nuclear attacks, or anything else. The game mechanics do not allow for the complete destruction of a city center. Coastal cities are vulnerable to climate change, which can submerge surrounding tiles.

6. What is the difference between a nuke and a thermonuke in Civ 6?

   • A standard nuclear device has a smaller blast radius and shorter fallout duration (10 turns) compared to a thermonuclear device. Thermonukes have a larger blast radius and longer fallout duration (20 turns).

7. Can you shoot down nukes in Civ 6?

   • Yes, nukes launched from Missile Silos and Nuclear Submarines have a chance of being shot down if they target a tile within a Mobile SAM’s defensive radius. If a bomber is delivering a nuke within 1 tile, the attack will fail if the Mobile SAM brings the bomber below 50% HP.

8. What are the warmonger penalties for using nukes in Civ 6?

   • Using nuclear weapons results in significant warmonger penalties with other civilizations. The exact amount varies based on the circumstances of the war.

9. Can city-states declare war on you for using nukes?

   • City-states can declare war on you in Civ 6, and they are more likely to do so if you have warmonger penalties from using nukes.

10. Do resources ever respawn after being destroyed by nukes?

    • No, resources destroyed by nuclear attacks do not respawn.

11. Does radiation go away in Civ 6?

    • Yes, radiation goes away with time (10-20 turns) or with a Builder.

12. Should I destroy or keep a city after nuking it in Civ 6?

    • In general, it’s better to keep a city, but there can be reasons to destroy it, such as low loyalty, a bad location, or hatred of the Civ.

13. How do I build a nuclear power plant in Civ 6?

    • To build a Nuclear Plant, a city must have: (1) a factory; (2) a supply of uranium in its strategic resources box; and (3) a source of fresh water within its 21-tile city radius.

14. What do military engineers do in Civ 6?

    • Military engineers are tasked with building fortifications and other structures and creating and maintaining lines of supply and communication. They also can perform actions like building railroads and mountain tunnels.

15. What do I do with Uranium in Civ 6?

    • Uranium is a strategic resource in Civilization games. It is needed to build nuclear weapons and some late-game military units.

Conclusion

While nuclear warfare is a powerful tool in Civilization VI, it comes with significant consequences. Understanding the impact of radioactive fallout and effectively utilizing Builders for cleanup is essential for recovering from the devastation and rebuilding your empire. Remember, a strategic approach to nuclear weapons is crucial for achieving victory without destroying the world in the process.

If you’re interested in learning more about the intersection of games and education, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society website at GamesLearningSociety.org. You can learn a lot about nuclear waste removal in games, too!